Canadian Mountain Holidays

One of the most challenging mountain bike races in North America, the TransRockies, got underway in Panorama Mountain Village this morning!

Just after 11am, about 500 bikers in two-person teams set off for a seven-day trek through the Kootenay Rockies of south eastern British Columbia, Canada. The cyclists will ride from Panorama to Fernie, where the race is scheduled to end on Saturday, August 16th.

The TransRockies was the brainchild of Heinrich Albrecht and Chester Fabricius, creators of the European TransAlp Challenge, which was first run in the 80’s. Albrecht and Fabricius wanted to start a similar race in North America. The inaugural TransRockies was held in 2002, and has been held every year since.

The route usually covers about 600 kilometers (over 370 miles) of mountainous terrain, over 7 days, with around 12,000m (over 13,000 yards) of climbing. The route varies every year, and regularly has to be changed at the last minute due to forest fires, or the threat of fire.

Panorama Mountain Village is a Canadian mountain holiday destination located about four hours’ drive south west of Calgary. Offering a wide variety of activities during the summer, including world class golf, and excellent skiing in the winter months, Panorama is a well-kept secret! The village is very well designed, with all accommodations centrally located and with excellent lift access in winter - there are few places that cannot be classed as ski in/ski out!

Compass Tours creates reasonably priced custom holiday packages to Panorama, as well as Whistler and Sun Peaks, for its clients.

If you’re thinking of visiting the mountains of beautiful British Columbia, don’t hesitate to ask us for a free quote - there’s no obligation!

While western Canada enjoys the last days of summer, our thoughts are already turning to the coming winter! Sun Peaks has several new things to offer visitors this snow season - here are some of them:

The Kookaburra Lodge has been under construction since May 2008, and is on schedule to welcome its first guests during winter 08/09. Located across from the Sun Peaks Sports Centre, with easy pedestrian access to the main village with its lift bases, restaurants, activities, and shopping, this building offers comfortable apartment-style accommodation for visitors in one-, two-, three-, four-bedroom units, some with lock-off studios, above ground level commercial space.

The Delta Residences wing of the Delta Sun Peaks Resort, which opened last winter, will again welcome guests to its lovely one- and two-bedroom suites. High-end finishing, like plasma screen tv’s and hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops in the full kitchens, make this a favourite place to stay!

On the ground floor of the Residences building, the Bluebird Market has 3500 square feet of grocery essentials stocked for the convenience of Sun Peaks visitors.

There will be some news stores and services, too: Elevation high performance rental shop, 5 Forty deli and cafe, Subculture bistro, Studio 578 (a hair salon), Alpine Blossoms (florist - pre-bookings only), Alpine Images (in a new location with a larger gallery), and the liquor store at its new location in the Delta Residences building.

Also to be introduced this winter are two new Piston Bully Snow Cats, for precision grooming on the slopes!

Compass Tours is proud to offer reasonably-priced custom Sun Peaks holiday packages - read what our clients have to say!

Ask us to create a quote for your next Sun Peaks vacation - its free, and there’s no obligation!

Don’t forget, we also work in Whistler and Panorama!

As of mid-July, the construction of Whistler’s world record breaking gondola is safely on track for opening in December 2008!

With two of the track ropes already hauled right across the valley and under tension, the third track rope is already on its way up the slopes of Whistler Mountain, having been hauled down from the Blackcomb station. The fourth and final track rope will follow, and then will come the gondola haul rope.

Once the haul rope is across, securing it will take a while because it will have to be spliced to form a loop. This job is scheduled for completion by mid-September.

Meanwhile, work on the terminal buildings is moving along apace, too! To compliment the other records being set by this gondola, they will be the largest lift terminal buildings in the world! At this moment, crews are installing the roof cladding on the Blackcomb terminal, while brick-, concrete- and mechanical work is being done on both sides.

The culture of mountain lift building has brought some interesting customs to the project! Each of the lift towers has borne the Swiss flag, because the construction crews originate in that alpine nation. In addition, as the last piece of steelwork has been installed at the top of each tower, a large tree has been placed atop the structure. Depending on who you talk to, this custom - known as Topping Out - celebrates a job completed without loss of life, or is a talisman for good fortune in the future.

On a project of this scale and nature, I think we can take both as great signs for the future of the Peak 2 Peak Gondola!

We have received several inquiries about the recent fire in Panorama Mountain Village, so decided to put up a post about the incident. Please be aware that this article is written from a casual observer’s point of view and contains opinions and conjecture that have not be confirmed by the relevant authorities.

On the night of June 20/21, a Friday night, one block of the Horsethief condo complex caught fire. All sixteen units in the 300 block sustained serious damage.

It is believed that the fire started at about 12.30am, apparently caused by an electrical fault.

Here are some photo’s taken on the Saturday morning:

Fortunately, there is no word of any injuries caused by the incident, nor were any firefighters harmed while dealing with the blaze.

It is believed that twelve units had resort staff living in them. Some had literally just moved in a couple of nights previously, and others had been living there for several years. These people lost everything they owned, destoyed either by the fire, or damage from the chemicals and water used to douse the flames.

Word is that the central check-in office received complaints from guests in nearby units about the noise made by the fire alarms, and how the fire had impacted on their enjoyment of their visit to Panorama. What can I say? Its amazing how self-centered people can be, when their neighbours have just lost not only everything they own, but the very roof over their heads!

Now, almost three weeks later, the block is safely condoned off and awaiting the finalization of the fire investigation before any action can be taken with regard to repairing or replacing the building. General consensus is that the building will have to be completely demolished and rebuilt:

A family holiday in Panorama has a lot to offer everyone, whether you’re just after some rest and relaxation, or want to enjoy some of the great summer activities available in the area!

Take a drive around the area … venture onto a logging road in the early morning or towards dusk, and you will have a good chance of viewing some area wildlife … bear, deer, moose, mountain goats, and many different types of birds! Go onto the logging roads on weekends or holidays - the loggers aren’t working so that the wildlife won’t have been too alarmed by the activity. A great alternative is to head up through Radium into the Kootenay and Glacier national parks … most of the time you don’t even have to leave the main road to enjoy game viewing!

Of course, when you’re out and about, you’ll also see the incredible variety of plant life that is able to survive the extremes of climate in this area … both evergreen and deciduous trees, and many flowering varieties (both wild and cultivated) with lovely fragrances!

Golfers can enjoy play at the renowned Greywolf Golf Course, which has some of the most spectacular mountain golf scenery in the world! Its a super track, great fun, and forgiving enough that even players who’ve not swung a club in over two years can still enjoy their games!

Speaking of scenery, no matter where you look, there’ll be something that will take your breath away … photo’s are great but they simply cannot capture the majesty of the area.

Today’s the official start of summer in Panorama: The first day of operations at Greywolf Golf Course! Although the course opening was delayed a week due to the cool spring and late snowmelt, its been worth the wait! The first long weekend of summer promises increased temperatures, up to as much as 30C, and sunshine right through to Monday!

Whistler’s summer has kicked in, too, with the golf courses all having opened in the past couple of weeks. Canada’s leading golf destination has five championship courses that’ll delight the most discerning golfer!

After an epic winter of huge snowfalls, and a long, chilly spring, Sun Peaks‘ Graham Cooke design golf course is scheduled to open for the season on May 24th.

Compass Tours specializes in creating reasonably-priced summer and winter holiday packages to Whistler, Sun Peaks and Panorama resorts. Experience, local knowledge, and great service!

Contact us today for your free, no-obligation quote!

Yes, its that time of year already! The freezing levels are starting to rise and the daffodils, tulips, bluebells and snowdrops are starting to pop up.

Panorama Mountain Village closed last Sunday, seeing the end of an epic season which boasted super snow conditions throughout the winter! Now the golf season’s on the way, with Greywolf Golf Course set to open on May 9th, with the mountain bike park soon to follow!

This coming Sunday will see the last weekend of winter operations in Sun Peaks for 2008, with several end-of-season events scheduled to celebrate what has been a great snow year. The Sun Peaks Golf Course will open on May 17th, and the mountain bike park opens June 28th.

Whistler still has almost two weeks of skiing and boarding left with Whistler Mountain closing on April 20th, while Blackcomb remains open as conditions permit until June 8th. Summer sliding on Blackcomb Glacier will open on June 9th. The much-anticipated Whistler golf season will start on April 18th with the opening of Big Sky Golf & Country Club. The other courses, Fairmont Chateau, Nicklaus North, and Whistler Golf Club, will be coming online as soon as conditions permit. The world-class mountain bike park on Whistler Mountain opens on May 17th.

If you’re thinking of planning a Canadian mountain holiday this summer, ask Compass Tours to help you make the arrangements! We operate in Whistler, Sun Peaks and Panorama, and would love to help you get the most out of your vacation! Contact us today for your free quote - and to benefit from our local knowledge and vacation planning experience!

Looking at it now, its hard to believe that on December 12th, 2008, the record breaking gondola strung between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains will be open! Whistler, Canada, will boast a gondola with the world’s longest unsupported span and, with just four towers, it will be one of the most environmentally responsible people-movers out there!

Guests will find moving between the two huge mountains much easier and quicker, a better way to enjoy both hills and over 8,000 acres! And during the summer, the gondola will become a “must do” activity for visitors to Whistler, while giving guests access to alpine hiking and walking trails on both mountains!

During the winter of 07/08, the manufacture of drive machinery, gondola cabins and cable was completed in the workshops of Europe, mostly in Austria and Switzerland.

Spring and summer this year will see the final concrete poured, the completion of the tower construction, the installation of all electrical equipment and machinery and, finally, the stringing of the cable.

Not long after the Whistler golf courses close for the winter of 08/09, the gondolas will be hung, the last of the safety systems will be installed and tested, official operational and safety inspections will be completed, and gondola staff will be trained and exercised.

The Peak to Peak Gondola will be yet another feather in Whistler’s cap - to compliment the new Whistler Olympic Park nordic facility and the Whistler Sliding Centre, which will host the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games bobsled, luge and skeleton competitions, along with the rest of the alpine events!

If you’re thinking about visiting Whistler, or enjoying a Canadian mountain holiday in Sun Peaks or Panorama, please contact us. Compass Tours can create a reasonably-priced custom package tailored to your needs - accommodation with any combination of air and ground transportation, lift tickets, golf, other seasonal activities, etc.

Its been a fantastic winter season in Whistler, Sun Peaks, and Panorama mountain resorts … the awesome snow that continues to fall means that winter will linger in the mountains, and spring will probably arrive fashionably late!

In fact, you could be forgiven for not even noticing that Old Man Winter is slowly shuffling away, or that at lower elevations around Vancouver spring is getting a toe-hold …

Miniature daffodils …

Flowering trees … if only I could remember what they’re called!

Taela just oozes contentment on a lush green lawn, gnawing on a particularly tasty stick …

Gorgeous violets, the intense colour of which I can’t seem to quite capture …

How lucky we are to live in “Paradise North”, the mountains of B.C.!

An update on the USA government’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which applies to all travelers between the USA and Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico and Bermuda:

The USA’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative currently requires passport documentation for all air travellers between the USA and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

For land and sea border crossings into the USA, as at January 31, 2008, if you don’t have a passport or another approved alternative (such as a US passport card, SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, or US Coast Guard Mariner Document), you’ll need a driver’s licence or other government-issue photo identification plus proof of citizenship (eg: birth certificate, citizenship card).

At a later date, to be determined, passports will be required for border crossings by land and sea.

For more information about WHTI from the Canadian perspective, visit the government website.